1 I will make an example of you

"Kneel!" The Lord of Demons bellowed, his voice deep and rumbling, yet carrying an air of authority that demanded obedience.

Zephyr lowered himself to the ground, a gesture of submission that was only reserved for the most powerful beings in the demon realm.

"Zephyr," the Lord of Demons Balthyrov spoke again, his voice resonating with power. "Your unwavering loyalty and unparalleled strength have earned my favor. You have proven yourself in countless battles, rising up the ranks to become one of my most powerful and trusted followers."

A swell of pride surged within Zephyr, a reward for years of hard work and dedication. He had endured countless trials and tribulations, fought through hordes of enemies, and emerged victorious, all in the name of serving his lord and gaining more power. And now, standing before the embodiment of evil itself, he could see the fruits of his labor.

Zephyr remained on his knees, waiting for Balthyrov to speak again, ready to carry out any task, no matter how daunting. He knew that his master's will was absolute, and he was willing to give his all to see it done. For in the demon realm, power was everything, and Zephyr had earned his place at the top.

" However, …."Balthyrov added ."You became a threat "

The air turned quickly to be thick with tension as Zephyr was still kneeling before the Lord of Demons. He had always been one of the most powerful and loyal demons in the realm, and he had never imagined that his strength would one day be perceived as a threat.

Balthyrov's expression darkened, and Zephyr could feel a chill run down his spine as he heard the words that sent his world crashing down.

"You have reached the point where everything is just an act," the Lord of Demons continued. "I fear that one day you may try to overthrow me and take my place as ruler of the demonic realm." The words hung heavy in the air, each syllable an accusation.

Zephyr's mind raced as he tried to defend himself. He had never had any intention of betraying the Lord of Demons, but now it seemed as though all of his actions had been misconstrued. His heart heavy with despair, he looked up at the Lord of Demons, searching for some sign of understanding.

But the Lord of Demons was not moved. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity as he spoke once more. "I cannot risk your treachery," he said. "I must eliminate you before you have the chance to act against me."

Zephyr's mind raced as he tried to comprehend what was happening. How could the Lord of Demons suspect him of such treachery? Had he not always been a loyal servant, dedicated to the Lord's cause?

But as the Balthyrov tightened his grip on Zephyr's shoulder, memories of his own past flooded his mind. He had always been ambitious and power-hungry, willing to do whatever it took to gain more influence and control. Perhaps his own actions had led to this moment of betrayal.

Despite his fear and confusion, Zephyr couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for his past actions. He had always been ruthless and driven, but now, as he lay helpless before the Lord of Demons, he realized the true cost of his desires.

As he opened his mouth to protest, to deny any intention of overthrowing the Lord of Demons, a burst of black energy shot from the Lord's fingertips, striking Zephyr in the chest.

"I see… you made up your mind….I accept my fate," he said calmly. "But know that one day, there will be someone who will rise up and challenge your rule wilingly."

Balthyrov paused for a moment, his glowing eyes fixed on Zephyr. "You speak of foolishness," he replied. "No one can match my power."

Zephyr smiled faintly. "Perhaps not now," he said. "But one day, the balance of power will shift. And when it does, I hope that you will remember my words."

" I will terminate you " said the lord of demons but he was surprised by the sarcastic smile on zephyr's face.

Balthyrov frowned in confusion at the sarcastic smile on Zephyr's face. "What are you grinning about?" he demanded.

"You think that I am scared of dying," Zephyr spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I have lived for five centuries, I have seen and done things that you can only dream of. Death holds no fear for me." He paused, his eyes fixated on the Lord of Demons, a cold smile forming on his lips.

"But what I hate the most, what I truly cannot bear, is the thought of dying like this, on my knees before you, after losing everything for you, dying here, defeated and humiliated, at your feet."

The Lord of Demons was taken aback by Zephyr's words. He had expected the demon to beg for mercy, to plead for his life. But instead, he saw a glimmer of defiance, a spark of rebellion in the demon's eyes.

He raised his hand, ready to deliver the final blow, but something in Zephyr's gaze gave him pause.

"What are you waiting for?" Zephyr taunted, his eyes never leaving the Lord of Demons'.

"Finish it. Kill me, and take my power for yourself. But know this, when you do, you will have sealed your own fate. The other demon lords will see this as a sign of weakness, and they will come for you. And when they do, they will find that you are not as invincible as you think."

Balthyrov hesitated, faltering for a moment. Zephyr's words had struck a chord within him, stirring a sense of doubt and uncertainty that he had not felt in a long time.

But he quickly shook it off, knowing that he could not afford to show any weakness in front of his subordinates.

"Very well," he said, his voice cold and resolute. "Your insolence will be your downfall. Die, Zephyr, and know that your power will be mine."

Balthyrov put his right hand inside of his chest as he pulled his heart out. Blood dripped to the ground as Zephyr looked at his heart with indescribable emotions.

He only had a few minutes left to live now as his heartbeat grew weaker over time.

The lord of demons towered over Zephyr, his eyes flashing with malice and hunger for power.

"You think I will give you what you want, to kill you? Hah, that is too easy," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

"No, I will definitely not do that. I know that you are hungry for power, just like me. And so, I will make sure that you will hate what I am going to do with you, traitor."

With those words, Zephyr's body crumpled to the ground as his eyes dulled.

Zephyr lay there, gasping for breath as he felt his life slowly slipping away. The faces of those he knew so well seemed to swim before his eyes, their smiles almost mocking in their indifference to his plight.

As he struggled to hold on to his last moments of consciousness, he couldn't help but wonder why they were so unconcerned with his fate.

His brothers were so pleased, they had smiles in their faces as the lord of demons, thier father, was killing him .

Was it because he had kept too much hidden from them, or was it simply that they never truly cared for him in the first place? 

As Zephyr took his last breath, the demons surrounding him fell silent. His once mighty body lay lifeless on the cold, hard ground. Balthyrov stood over him, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. But as the other demons watched, they could sense that something was different, something was off.

The Lord of Demons looked down at Zephyr's body and a wicked smile spread across his face.

"I will make an example of you, son" he declared, his voice echoing through the halls of the castle.

"Let all who dare to challenge my power know that they will suffer the same fate as you."

The demons trembled at his words, but even as they cowered, they could feel a sense of unease growing within them. They had never seen the Lord of Demons so pleased before, and the aura of darkness emanating from him was more potent than ever.

As the Lord of Demons turned to leave, the demons could see a glint of something in his eyes, something that spoke of a greater plan. They knew that Zephyr's death was only the beginning, and that something even more sinister was about to unfold.